Re: [PATCH RFC] timer: of: Create a platform_device before the framework is initialized

["Arnd Bergmann" <arnd@arndb.de>]

On Tue, Jul 1, 2025, at 20:21, William McVicker wrote:
> On 07/01/2025, Arnd Bergmann wrote:
>> On Tue, Jul 1, 2025, at 01:53, William McVicker wrote:
>> >> @@ -1550,6 +1553,8 @@ typedef void (*of_init_fn_1)(struct device_node *);
>> >>  		_OF_DECLARE(table, name, compat, fn, of_init_fn_1_ret)
>> >>  #define OF_DECLARE_2(table, name, compat, fn) \
>> >>  		_OF_DECLARE(table, name, compat, fn, of_init_fn_2)
>> >> +#define OF_DECLARE_PDEV(table, name, compat, fn) \
>> >> +		_OF_DECLARE(table, name, compat, fn, of_init_fn_pdev)
>> >
>> > To support auto-module loading you'll need to also define the
>> > MODULE_DEVICE_TABLE() as part of TIMER_OF_DECLARE_PDEV().
>> >
>> > I haven't tested the patch yet, but aside from my comment above it LGTM.
>> 
>> The patch doesn't actually have a module_platform_driver_probe()
>> yet either, so loading the module wouldn't actually do anything.
>
> Probing with TIMER_OF_DECLARE() just consists of running the match table's data
> function pointer. So that is covered by Daniel's patch AFAICT. However, it's
> not clear if this implementation allows you to load the kernel module after the
> device boots? For example, will the Exynos MCT timer probe if I load the
> exynos_mct driver after the device boots? My guess is you'd need to register
> the device as a platform device with a dedicated probe function to handle that.

Yes, that's what I meant: the loadable module needs a module_init()
function that registers the actual platform driver in order for the
probe function to be called. module_platform_driver_probe()
is the way I would suggest to arrange it, though that is just a
convenience helper around the registration.

The platform device at that point is created by the normal DT scan,
so there is no need to create an extra one. On the contrary, in case
we successfully call the probe function from timer_init(), we end
up with two separate 'struct platform_device' instances 

     Arnd